Week 12: I’m a Survivor

Welcome to the end of your first trimester! You’ve made it a third of the way through your pregnancy. Congratulations! For many of you, this is a significant milestone and achievement. You’ve survived tough days of nausea, fatigue, and emotional lows. Still, you’ve also seen the joys of your body changing, heard your baby’s heartbeat, and potentially seen your baby on ultrasound. The first trimester is about laying the foundation for the coming months of pregnancy. Your breast tissue is adapted for breastfeeding. Your placenta has grown and works effectively to filter nutrients for your baby. Your uterus is finished growing in size and is now ready to be stretched to grow with your baby. It is also more spherical in shape and has moved away from your bladder, so for those struggling with urinary frequency, there will be some relief ahead. Other more harmless symptoms may linger for the duration of the pregnancy: runny or stuffy nose, excessive salivation, sensitive gums and increased mucus production. Don’t let these symptoms steal your joy in gestating your little one!

Your baby is 12 weeks old, and the foundation of development is also largely complete in this first trimester. All the organ systems are present and functioning in some capacity. Additionally, this week, your baby has defined external male and female sex characteristics! Your little boy or girl is busy building bones and muscles. The bones that were previously soft now start to harden. Your baby can now move all extremities and change positions in your womb. You’ll have to wait to feel these movements, though, as they are uncoordinated and not strong enough to be perceived.